Tank car valve



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a? lyENTpR W BY #(J/ATTORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1932 F. L. DIETERICH TANK CAR VALVE Filed Dec. 3. 1930 Dec. 6, 1932. v D|ETER|H 1,890,247

TANK CAR VALVE Filed Dec. 5, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 6, 1932. F. DIETERICH TANK GAR VALVE Filed Dec. 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I ZW, BY I MATTORN EY.

Patented Dec. 6, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FRANCIS L. DIEIEBIOH, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY TANK CAB VALVE Application filed December 8, 1880. Serial No. 499,894.

This invention relates to improvements in valves for tank cars and other large receptacles havinglbottom outlets, boots or legs and which receptacles are of such size as to ordinarily require the entrance of workmen thereinto when it isdesired to remove the valve and grind or refinish the seat.

Heretofore, as I am aware, it has been customary to control the outlet from a tank car by means of a valve, usually cam-operated, which was mounted therein in such a manner that while the same could be'operated from the outside, usuall b means of a cam carried on the upper en 0 a long rod 35 connected to the valve, nevertheless, where obstructions or foreign material lodged beneath said valve or where the valve seat became scored or worn, it has also been necessary to first preliminarily steam and gas-free the car in those cases where it has been used for the shi ment of i nitable or inflammable liquids and then for e workmen to-enter the car and manually remove the obstruction which has prevented the roper operation of the valve from the outsi e of the car or else I grind the seat by rapidl manually rotating the valve on the seat, w ile employing suitable valve grinding compounds.

My investigations have led to the discovery that all of the foregoing objections can be avoided through the equipment of a tank car with a valve mechanism of the construction hereinafter described, which admits of not only of the manipulation of the valve in order to open and close the same, by an operative stationed outside ofthe car, but even permits of the removal of the valve and the shing out of large obstructions which have lodged beneath the valve without necessitating the entrance of a workman within the car besides allowing the refinishing of the valve seat from the outside of the car, as well as other advantages as hereinafter set forth. My invention is fully set forth in the 01- lowing detailed description and drawings forming a part of this specification, in which latter Figure 1 is an elevation of my im roved valve mechanism as ap lied to the out et of a tank car of which a ragmentary elevation partly in section is shown, the valve being shown in an open position with its guide proectmg into t e outlet conduit;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2--2 pf Fig. 1, the valve being shown in elevaion;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 8-3 of F1g. 1, the handwheel and operating rod being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the valve completely removed from the outlet condu'=t and unhooked so as to be free to be removed from the car by an operator positioned without the car; b

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlar ed detail perspective view of the latch mec anism;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section, the valve being shown partly in o eration, of a modified form of valve 1n WhlCh the guides or wings proJect upwardly above the valve pro er;

ig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 99 of Fig. 8; r

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation, partly in secton, of an all metal valve;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view and Fig. 12 is a detail elevation, of a modified form of latch.

Referring to the drawings and the construction shown therein, the reference numeral 1 designates the cylindrical body or shell of a tank car, the same having a dome 2, cover 3 and collar or fittng 4, the opening 5 of which is ordinarily closed by a cap (not shown), and which; cap is removed when it is desired to introduce liquid through the inlet aperture 6 or to manipulate or remove the valve hereinafter described.

A bracket 7, which projects horizontally from the dome 2, is provided with amarginally intersecting slot 8 adapted to recelve the rod or valve stem 9 on the upper end of which a handwheel 10 is rigidly secured. A coil spring 11 is interposed between the handwheel and alocking-plate 12, the latter be ng slidably mounted on the reduced upper end 1 12 to permit of the optional raising or lowering 0 said valve with respect to its seat and also to normally limit the extent to which the valve can be elevated off of its seat while also permitting of its complete removal from the car from the outside, when desired, without requiring the entrance of a workman into the car.

A ring 15, having integral opposing, but oppositely projecting hook members 16 and 17, respectively, is secured by bolts 18 to the outlet leg, hereinafter described, said hooks being adapted to respectively engage with the opposing arms '14 when the latter are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and prevent the accidental release of the said arms during the normal operation of the valve by means of the handwheel 10 and valve stem or operating rod 9. The opening 19 of the ring 15 1s of slightly greater diameter than the maximum diameter of the valve 21 which, in the construction shown in Fig. 2, is secured to the lower end of the operating rod and immediately below the threaded portion thereof by a pin 22. Said valve in the form shown in Fig. 2, comprises two pieces, the upper one having an enlarged flanged portion 23 and the lower member 25 is cut away to form a gasket-receiving peripheral recess 24: Integral, depend ng wings 26 serve as guides for the valve during the seating and unseatlng movements thereof. A depending threaded boss 27. carried by the upper member 23 is adapted to be screwed into the central recess in the lower member 25 and permit of the high compression of a laminated gasket,

preferably-comprising compressed layers of whose bore 32 is adapted to snugly receive the wings 26 and accurately guide the same.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 8, a modified form of valve is employed in which the guide wings pro ect upwardly from the valve proper. This valve com rises a top member 50 having a peripheral ange 51 of a diameter greater than the extreme diameter of the valve seat. The said upper member of the valve is formed into a square head 52 which has an under-cut slot 53 in which a pin 55 is projected in such a manner-as to act as a guide and retainer for the rod 55 when the enlarged end 56 is inserted into said slot 53 and is in the extreme innermost osition therein. The rod 55 is rovided with a thread 57 that engages the internal threads of the collar 13 similarly to the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The rin 58 is similar to the ring 15, except that it is provided with a vertical flange or aligning collar 59. The member 50 is recessed to receive a laminated gasket similar to that shown in Fig. 2 and the boss 60 is provided with a central threaded recess into which the lower member is threadedas hereinafter described. Said upper member 50 is also provided with upwardly projecting integral guide wings 61 that are adapted to slidably engage the inner face of the aligning collar59. The lower member 63 of the valve has a central threaded stud 64 that is adapted to be threaded into the central recess in the boss 60 when the upper and lower valve members and gasket are assembled whereby the gasket can be effectively compressed during such assembly.

In Fig. 10, the valve shown is generally similar to that illustrated in Fig. 8 except that the entire valve is formed of a single piece of metal. The same comprises a member 50', having a flange 51 a square head 52, integral wings 61 and an inclined valve face 65, said valve being mounted similarly to that shown in Fig. 8.

The form of latch construction shown in Fig. 11 comprises a bracket member 66, genorally similar to the standard bracket now commonly employed, except that the same has a marginal slot 67 and a locking pin receiving-aperture 68. A pivotal co-operating locking element 69 is provided with a slot 70 which is adapted to co-operate with the slot 67 to embrace the rod 9 and accurately guide the same when the aperture 71 is in registry with the aperture 68 aforesaid. The bracket and locking element 69 are secured together by a rivet 72 and a locking pin 73, which is preferably carried by a chain 74. likewise anchored to said rivet, serves to positively lock the elements of the latch together.

Among the advantages of my improved valve mechanism are its cheapness and simpl citv and the facility with which it can be substituted for the valve at present employed as standard equipment on tank cars in those cases where it is desired to replace the present type of valve with a dependable leakproof valve which can be entirely removed from the outside of the car when re-seating operations on the valve seat are to be performed or when it. is desired to replace a gasket on the valve. Furthermore. where my preferred type of laminated valve is employed, the fact that the valve is formed of two co-operating members having threaded. engagement with each other, permits of the high compression of the laminated gasket after the'application of the same to the valve member which carries the same, the same preferably being compressed to about onethird of its original thickness and, as a consequence, the cork laminations become highly resistant to abrasive or chemical action, thereby materially enhancing the durability and solvent resistance thereof, but without affecting its ability to embed or accommodate, due to the elasticity of the valve face, any small articles of rust or foreign materials which Become lodged between the face of the gasket and the valve seat whereb a. tight seal is insured under conditions t at would otherwise in the ease of a metal-to-metal seal, set up a decided leaking of the valve. Since moreover the fact that valve is softer than the seat, any abrasive particles which, as above stated, may become embeddedun such resultant valve face, are far less likely to score the valve seat and thereby the frequent re-seating of the latter is also avo ded.

In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the valve 21 bein rigidly inned to the rod 9 by means of the pm 22, ends itself to hem unseated by an operator introducing a too through the boot to engage the wing member 26, whereby the valve can be unscrewed and unseated without necessitating the opening of the dome. Such operation 18 particularly desirable where a car is loaded with gasoline obtained from easing head as owing to the extreme volatility thereof, w ereby the liquid asoline can be withdrawn from a point be- Iow the accumulated vapors without the loss of large quantities of entrained gasoline as would occur were the'dome to be opened and the accumulated vapors allowed to escape.

While my invention in its broadest aspects is not confined to the use of a resilient valve face, such a valve face is in addition to the reasons hereinbeforel mentioned, particularly desirable, since it prevents the stretching of the threads when excessive pressure is applied to the handwheel on the top of the valve rod 9 by the operator, and furthermore it renders the application of such excessive pressure unnecessary in order to effect a tight-seal. Furthermore, such elastic gasket when interposed between the two separate members of the valve, not only serves when compressed to prevent the entrance of liquids into the threads on the threaded boss 27, but also as a result of said compression, the character of such gasket becomes very materi ally changed and becomes highly resistant to abrasions and to the action of solvents and chemicals, especially when such asket is composed of laminations of cork and fibre, such as hereinbefore referred to. In addition to this, the high compression of such cork and fibre results in preventin the entrance ofv liquids into the gasket an thereby even ordinary fibre, such as kraft paper, can be employed in lieu of vulcanized fibre.

Various modifications within the scope of the appended claims may be made without de arting from the spirit of my invention.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by United States Letters Patent is 1. In a valve mechanism for tank cars, the

combination comprisin an elongated operating rod provided wit means adjacent its upper end for rotatingl the same, said rod being of sufiicient lengt to project from the dome of said car into proximit to a valve seat located in the bottom of t e tank car, a valve member mounted on the lower end of said rod, a collar on the lower end of. the rod for efiecting the raising or lowering within defined limits of said valve with res ect to its seat according to the direction in w ich said rod is rotated means, including a spring, for normally holding said collar against rotation during the normal raising or lowering of said valve while permitting of the 2. In a valve mechanism for tank ears, the

sub-combination comprising a valve adapted to be normally seated on a valve seat of a tank car, an elongated operating rod carryin a collar and means for holding said co lar against rotation during the normal raising or lowering of the valve while rmitting of the disengagement of said col ar from said latter means and of its rotation when the operating rod is de ressed, whereby said valve can be quickly re eased and removed from the ear. Y,

3. In a valve mechanism for tank cars, the combination comprisin an elongated operating rod carrying a col ar and provided with means ad'aeent its upper end for rotating the same, sai rod being ofsuflieientlength to project from the dome of said car into proximity to a valve seat located in the bottom of the tank car, a valve mounted on the lower end of "said rod, said valve comprising top and bottom members, in threaded relation with each other, having an interposed gasket adapted to be held under high compression therebetween and one of said members having vertically extending guide wings adapted to hold said valve in alignment during the normal raising or loweringthereoffrom the seat, a screw on the lower end of the rod for effecting the raising or lowering within defined limits of said valve with respect to its seat according to the direction in which said rod is rotated, means, including a spring, for normally holding said collar against rotation during the normal raising or lowering of said valve while permitting of the rotation of the collar when the operating rod is depressed, guide means secured to said tank car for supportin said operating rod adjacent its upper en and means for normal y maintaining said rod in operative relation with said guide means.

4. In a valve mechanism for tank cars, the combination comprising an elongated operating rod provided with means adjacent its upper end for rotating the same, said rod being of suflicient length to project from the dome of said car into proximity to a valve seat located in the bottom of the tank car, a valve member mounted on the lower end of said rod, a screw on the lower end of the rod for effecting the raising or lowering within defined limits of said valve with respect to its seat according to the directionin which said rod is rotated, means, including a spring and a screw collar mounted on said rod and having opposing laterally projecting arms, for normally holding said collar against rotation during the normal raising or lowering of said valve while permitting of the rotation of the collar when the operating rod is depressed,

' portion of'said valve stem disposed immediately above said valve, said collar having opposing lateral arms, opposing hooks adapted to be secured to the bottom of said tank car, which hooks are adapted to normally engage said arms of said collar and prevent the rotationiofsaid collar while permitting of the raising and lowering of said valve member, elastic means for normally holding said arms inengagement'with the respective hooks and I means carried by the shell of said. car for guidingsaid wings and centeringtthe valve during the raising and lowering thereof from its seat.

6. In atank car valve, the sub combination comprising a valve,anoperatingrod swiveled thereto, a portion of said rod immediately above said valve being threaded, a threaded collar mounted on the threaded portion of said rod, said collar having opposing lateral arms, means adapted to normally engage the opposing arms while permitting of the seating and unseating ot' the value when desired, a spring carried by said ,rod for normally holding said arms in engagement with'said means, means secured to the upper part of said car for guiding the upper end of said stem and locking means for holding said guide and said rod in slidable engagement with each other while permitting of the release of said rod from said guide when desired.

7. In a valve mechanism for tank cars, the combination comprising an elongated operatin rod, the samebemg'provided with a hen wheel at its upper end, a bracket ada ted to be secured to said tank car for gui ing the upper end of said operating rod, means for maintaining said rod in enga ement with said bracket while permitting oi? the slidin movement of the rod with *res ect to sai bracket, a coil spring interposed etween said bracket and the upper end of said rod for normally holding said rod in an elevated position, a valve swiveled to the lower end ofsaid rod, a collar mounted on said rod immediately above said valve, said collar being adaptedto serve as a bushing to admit of the raising and lowering of said valve by the rotation of said rod and having laterally opposing arms projecting therefrom, ope; positely disposed members adapted to secured to the bottom of the tank car adjacent the valve seat thereof and adapted to engage the opposing arms of said collar when the operating rod has been elevated under the influence of said spring and said arms have been brought into an engaging'position with said opposing members whereby rotation of said collar is prevented when said operating rod is at its uppermost limit, but

said members being adapted to release the arms of said collar and permit of rotation thereof when the operating rod is forcibly depressed.

8. In a valve mechanism for tank cars, the sub-combination comprising an annular plate adapted to surround the valve seat of a tank car, means for securing the same to said tank car in proximity to said seat, hook-members, upwaz'dlyprojecting, but oppositely extending with respect to each other, carried by said plate and diametrically disposed with respect to each other along the periphery thereof, a valve operating rod, a bracket serving to guide and'support said rod at the upper end thereof, a spring adapted, when said rod is mounted on saidbracket, to normally exert an upward thrust thereon, a valve carried by the lower end of said rod, guide members projecting vertically from said valve and adapted to center said valve on said valve seat during the normal raising and lowering operations thereof, a thi'ead formed on said rod adjacent the lower end thereof, a bushing member mounted on said threaded portion of said rod, said bushing having opposing laterally projecting arms adapted to engage the aforesaid hook members when said arms are brought into position directly beneath said hook members and when applied downward pressure on the operating rod is released whereby the upward movement of said valve is limited while said bushing is in engage- FRANCIS L. DIETERICH. 

